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Cell Metabolism Aug 2013Cancer cells often have characteristic changes in metabolism. Cellular proliferation, a common feature of all cancers, requires fatty acids for synthesis of membranes... (Review)
Review
Cancer cells often have characteristic changes in metabolism. Cellular proliferation, a common feature of all cancers, requires fatty acids for synthesis of membranes and signaling molecules. Here, we provide a view of cancer cell metabolism from a lipid perspective, and we summarize evidence that limiting fatty acid availability can control cancer cell proliferation.
Topics: Cell Proliferation; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Neoplasms
PubMed: 23791484
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.05.017 -
Progress in Lipid Research Apr 2022Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are structural components of membrane phospholipids, and influence cellular function via effects on membrane properties, and also by... (Review)
Review
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are structural components of membrane phospholipids, and influence cellular function via effects on membrane properties, and also by acting as a precursor pool for lipid mediators. These lipid mediators are formed via activation of pathways involving at least one step of dioxygen-dependent oxidation, and are consequently called oxylipins. Their biosynthesis can be either enzymatically-dependent, utilising the promiscuous cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidase pathways, or nonenzymatic via free radical-catalyzed pathways. The oxylipins include the classical eicosanoids, comprising prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, and also more recently identified lipid mediators. With the advent of new technologies there is growing interest in identifying these different lipid mediators and characterising their roles in health and disease. This review brings together contributions from some of those at the forefront of research into lipid mediators, who provide brief introductions and summaries of current understanding of the structure and functions of the main classes of nonclassical oxylipins. The topics covered include omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA biosynthesis pathways, focusing on the roles of the different fatty acid desaturase enzymes, oxidized linoleic acid metabolites, omega-3 PUFA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators, elovanoids, nonenzymatically oxidized PUFAs, and fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids.
Topics: Eicosanoids; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Oxylipins
PubMed: 35508275
DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2022.101165 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2018Lipids comprise a large group of chemically heterogeneous compounds. The majority have fatty acids (FA) as part of their structure, making these compounds suitable tools... (Review)
Review
Lipids comprise a large group of chemically heterogeneous compounds. The majority have fatty acids (FA) as part of their structure, making these compounds suitable tools to examine processes raging from cellular to macroscopic levels of organization. Among the multiple roles of FA, they have structural functions as constituents of phospholipids which are the "building blocks" of cell membranes; as part of neutral lipids FA serve as storage materials in cells; and FA derivatives are involved in cell signalling. Studies on FA and their metabolism are important in numerous research fields, including biology, bacteriology, ecology, human nutrition and health. Specific FA and their ratios in cellular membranes may be used as biomarkers to enable the identification of organisms, to study adaptation of bacterial cells to toxic compounds and environmental conditions and to disclose food web connections. In this review, we discuss the various roles of FA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and highlight the application of FA analysis to elucidate ecological mechanisms. We briefly describe FA synthesis; analyse the role of FA as modulators of cell membrane properties and FA ability to store and supply energy to cells; and inspect the role of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and the suitability of using FA as biomarkers of organisms.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Cell Membrane; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Humans
PubMed: 30304860
DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102583 -
Biomedical Papers of the Medical... Jun 2011Fatty acids are substantial components of lipids and cell membranes in the form of phospholipids. This review consists of two parts. The present part aims at describing... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Fatty acids are substantial components of lipids and cell membranes in the form of phospholipids. This review consists of two parts. The present part aims at describing fatty acid classification, dietary sources and biological functions. The second part will focus on fatty acid physiological roles and applications in human health and disease.
RESULTS
In humans, not all fatty acids can be produced endogenously due to the absence of certain desaturases. Thus, specific fatty acids termed essential (linoleic, alpha-linolenic) need to be taken from the diet. Other fatty acids whose synthesis depends on essential fatty acid intake include eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, found in oily fish. Dietary sources of saturated fatty acids are animal products (butter, lard) and tropical plant oils (coconut, palm), whereas sources of unsaturated fatty acids are vegetable oils (such as olive, sunflower, and soybean oils) and marine products (algae and fish oils). Saturated fatty acids have been related to adverse health effects, whereas unsaturated fatty acids, especially monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated, are thought to be protective. In addition, trans fatty acids have been shown to have negative effects on health, whereas conjugated fatty acids might be beneficial. Lastly, fatty acids are the main components of lipid classes (triacylglycerols, phospholipids, cholesteryl esters, non-esterified fatty acids).
CONCLUSION
Fatty acids are important biocompounds which take part in complex metabolic pathways, thus having major biological roles. They are obtained from various dietary sources which determine the type of fat consumed and consequently health outcome.
Topics: Dietary Fats; Fatty Acids; Humans
PubMed: 21804620
DOI: 10.5507/bp.2011.038 -
Journal of Lipid Research Sep 2013Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the end products of fermentation of dietary fibers by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota, have been shown to exert multiple beneficial... (Review)
Review
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the end products of fermentation of dietary fibers by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota, have been shown to exert multiple beneficial effects on mammalian energy metabolism. The mechanisms underlying these effects are the subject of intensive research and encompass the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism. This review summarizes the role of SCFAs in host energy metabolism, starting from the production by the gut microbiota to the uptake by the host and ending with the effects on host metabolism. There are interesting leads on the underlying molecular mechanisms, but there are also many apparently contradictory results. A coherent understanding of the multilevel network in which SCFAs exert their effects is hampered by the lack of quantitative data on actual fluxes of SCFAs and metabolic processes regulated by SCFAs. In this review we address questions that, when answered, will bring us a great step forward in elucidating the role of SCFAs in mammalian energy metabolism.
Topics: Animals; Diet; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Humans; Intestines; Microbiota
PubMed: 23821742
DOI: 10.1194/jlr.R036012 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Mar 2003Excess lipid accumulation in non-adipose tissues is associated with insulin resistance, pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis and heart failure. Here, we demonstrate in...
Excess lipid accumulation in non-adipose tissues is associated with insulin resistance, pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis and heart failure. Here, we demonstrate in cultured cells that the relative toxicity of two common dietary long chain fatty acids is related to channeling of these lipids to distinct cellular metabolic fates. Oleic acid supplementation leads to triglyceride accumulation and is well tolerated, whereas excess palmitic acid is poorly incorporated into triglyceride and causes apoptosis. Unsaturated fatty acids rescue palmitate-induced apoptosis by channeling palmitate into triglyceride pools and away from pathways leading to apoptosis. Moreover, in the setting of impaired triglyceride synthesis, oleate induces lipotoxicity. Our findings support a model of cellular lipid metabolism in which unsaturated fatty acids serve a protective function against lipotoxicity though promotion of triglyceride accumulation.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; CHO Cells; Cell Line; Cricetinae; Drug Resistance; Fatty Acid Desaturases; Fatty Acids; Lipid Metabolism; Mice; Models, Biological; Oleic Acid; Palmitic Acid; Triglycerides
PubMed: 12629214
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0630588100 -
Nutrients Jan 2016Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered to be critical nutrients to regulate human health and development, and numerous fatty acid desaturases play key roles... (Review)
Review
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered to be critical nutrients to regulate human health and development, and numerous fatty acid desaturases play key roles in synthesizing PUFAs. Given the lack of delta-12 and -15 desaturases and the low levels of conversion to PUFAs, humans must consume some omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their diet. Many studies on fatty acid desaturases as well as PUFAs have shown that fatty acid desaturase genes are closely related to different human physiological conditions. Since the first front-end desaturases from cyanobacteria were cloned, numerous desaturase genes have been identified and animals and plants have been genetically engineered to produce PUFAs such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Recently, a biotechnological approach has been used to develop clinical treatments for human physiological conditions, including cancers and neurogenetic disorders. Thus, understanding the functions and regulation of PUFAs associated with human health and development by using biotechnology may facilitate the engineering of more advanced PUFA production and provide new insights into the complexity of fatty acid metabolism.
Topics: Biotechnology; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acid Desaturases; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Humans; Lipid Metabolism
PubMed: 26742061
DOI: 10.3390/nu8010023 -
Journal of Oleo Science 2020Fatty acid and monoglyceride are examples of lipid compounds that can be founded in vegetable oils. The fatty acid has an important role in the human diet, lubricants,... (Review)
Review
Fatty acid and monoglyceride are examples of lipid compounds that can be founded in vegetable oils. The fatty acid has an important role in the human diet, lubricants, detergents, cosmetics, plastics, coatings, and resin. Monoglyceride has a wide function in the food industry in particular as natural emulsifier, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, antioxidant, and antibacterial. Therefore, isolation and preparation of fatty acid and monoglyceride are the crucial step. This article focuses on providing the chemical reaction paths of isolation fatty acid and synthesis of monoglyceride from vegetable oils. Fatty acids could be isolated by Colgate-Emery steam hydrolysis, hydrolysis of vegetable oils using inorganic base catalyst or lipase, and base-catalyzed hydrolysis of pure fatty acid methyl ester. There are three steps in the synthesis of pure fatty acid methyl ester which are neutralization, transesterification, and fractional distillation. There are four reactions paths in preparing monoglyceride from vegetable oils. They are glycerolysis, ethanolysis using lipase enzyme (sn-1,3), esterification of fatty acid with glycerol in the presence of inorganic acid catalyst or lipase, transesterification of fatty acid methyl ester with glycerol, transesterification of fatty acid methyl ester with protected glycerol (1,2-O-isopropylidene glycerol), and deprotection using an acid resin (Amberlyst-15).
Topics: Catalysis; Esterification; Esters; Fatty Acids; Glycerol; Hydrolysis; Lipase; Monoglycerides; Plant Oils; Styrenes
PubMed: 32249258
DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess19168 -
FEMS Microbiology Reviews Mar 2023Fatty acids are important molecules in bioenergetics and also in industry. The phylum cyanobacteria consists of a group of prokaryotes that typically carry out oxygenic... (Review)
Review
Fatty acids are important molecules in bioenergetics and also in industry. The phylum cyanobacteria consists of a group of prokaryotes that typically carry out oxygenic photosynthesis with water as an electron donor and use carbon dioxide as a carbon source to generate a range of biomolecules, including fatty acids. They are also able to import exogenous free fatty acids and direct them to biosynthetic pathways. Here, we review current knowledge on mechanisms and regulation of free fatty acid transport into cyanobacterial cells, their subsequent activation and use in the synthesis of fatty acid-containing biomolecules such as glycolipids and alka(e)nes, as well as recycling of free fatty acids derived from such molecules. This review also covers efforts in the engineering of such cyanobacterial fatty acid-associated pathways en route to optimized biofuel production.
Topics: Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Cyanobacteria; Fatty Acids; Photosynthesis; Biosynthetic Pathways
PubMed: 37061785
DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad015 -
Aging Mar 2024Observational studies have previously shown a possible link between fatty acids and aging-related diseases, raising questions about its health implications. However, the...
BACKGROUND
Observational studies have previously shown a possible link between fatty acids and aging-related diseases, raising questions about its health implications. However, the causal relationship between the two remains uncertain.
METHODS
Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to analyze the relationship between five types of fatty acids-polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), saturated fatty acid (SFA), Omega-6 fatty acid (Omega-6 FA), and Omega-3 fatty acid (Omega-3 FA) and three markers of aging: telomere length (TL), frailty index (FI), and facial aging (FclAg). The primary approach for Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis involved utilizing the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, with additional supplementary methods employed.
RESULTS
Univariate MR analysis revealed that MUFA, PUFA, SFA, and Omega-6 fatty acids were positively associated with TL (MUFA OR: 1.019, 95% CI: 1.006-1.033; PUFA OR: 1.014, 95% CI: 1.002-1.026; SFA OR: 1.016, 95% CI: 1.002-1.031; Omega-6 FAs OR=1.031, 95% CI: 1.006-1.058). PUFA was also associated with a higher FI (OR: 1.033, 95% CI: 1.009-1.057). In multivariate MR analysis, after adjusting for mutual influences among the five fatty acids, MUFA and PUFA were positively independently associated with TL (MUFA OR: 1.1508, 95% CI = 1.0724-1.2350; PUFA OR: 1.1670, 95% CI = 1.0497-1.2973, while SFA was negatively correlated (OR: 0.8005, 95% CI: 0.7045-0.9096).
CONCLUSIONS
Our research presents compelling evidence of a causal association between certain fatty acids and indicators of the aging process. In particular, MUFA and PUFA may play a role in slowing down the aging process, while SFAs may contribute to accelerated aging. These findings could have significant implications for dietary recommendations aimed at promoting healthy aging.
Topics: Fatty Acids; Dietary Fats; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Fatty Acids, Omega-3
PubMed: 38535988
DOI: 10.18632/aging.205674